Top 12 Sunscreen Tips for Summer
1. Use a sunscreen that protects both against UVA (rays that are closely linked to
deeper skin damage) and UVB (rays causing sunburn), which is also known as a “broad spectrum” sunscreen and is recommended for everyone. Daily and year round! Check www.skincancer.org for a list of products that have been tested and that meet their standards.
2. Sunscreen in foundation wears off/breaks down after only a couple of hours so
it’s best to apply extra sunscreen separately, under makeup or along with your makeup even though it may have an SPF 15 or higher. Sunscreen formulations include creams, lotions, sprays, gels, roll-ons, and moisturizers. Find a product that meets your personal preference.
3. A base tan will help prevent getting burned or skin cancer is simply not true. Even a deep tan only provides the equivalent of an SPF 4 sunscreen in Caucasians.
4. Darker skins DO need sunscreens!! Sunscreens with a minimum SPF 15 and
higher, depending on the darkness of your skin, are an absolute must for any person of any skin color who cares not only about aging, but other harmful effects, primarily skin cancer. Use them daily year round.
5. Always apply sunscreen 20 minutes before you’re exposed to the sun to allow
your skin time to absorb the product and create a protective shield.
6. Use sunscreen generously on all exposed skin—face, neck and hands. Apply
at least a shot-glass full (about one ounce). That may seem like a lot, but most persons do not apply enough and do not receive the protection they THINK they have. And be careful with sprays, they might not provide the amount of protection you need.
7. Store sunscreen away from the sun and heat to prevent spoiling.
8. Reapply it after vigorous exercise or swimming even if the product is
labeled “water proof” or “water resistant”. Very water-resistant can last up to 80 minutes while some water resistant products only offer 40 minutes of protection. As a rule of thumb, reapply your sunscreen to exposed areas every two hours.
9. Remember that the sun reflects off water, sand and snow, so sit on a blanket under an umbrella on the beach (wearing your SPF 30, of course) and wear a high SPF on the face when skiing or enjoying other snow sports.
10. Take note of expiration dates. If a bottle or tube does not have an expiration date, toss it after one year.
11. Whether it’s the sun or a tanning bed, both produce UVA and UVB rays that
can cause skin cancer, wrinkling and sagging of the skin, brown spots and other
discolorations. In fact, no one under the age of 18 according to the World Health Organization should use a tanning bed due to the sharp increase in skin cancer cases in that age group worldwide. See www.suntips.ca for more information.
12. Remember your sunglasses! Both UVA and UVB damage the eyes and are considered a major factor in cataracts, macular degeneration and cancer of the eyes. The lighter your eyes, the more they are at risk. Regardless of the colour of your sunglasses they should meet “ANSI UV requirements” or “UV absorption up to 400 nm” to block 99% of UV rays.
Be sure to make sunscreen a part of your daily regimen – not just on your face, but hands, arms and any other body parts exposed daily to the sun’s rays. And there are plenty of self-tanning products out there if you absolutely want that sun-kissed look. Just remember that sun damage is cumulative and wrinkles are probably not going to be a serious fashion statement any time soon!
~ Kathryn Stolle, Spas of America. Kathryn is a spa industry professional and author of “How to Get Great Spa On the Road to Health and Wellness".
